Anyone with plans to make a trip between New York and London this month can’t do much better than this: $620 one-way to fly in Singapore Airlines’ old Airbus A380 lie-flat business class seats.
These business class seats are being used on Norwegian Airlines flights operated by Hi-Fly, between London Gatwick (LGW) and New York Kennedy (JFK). Image by Hi-Fly
For a slight upcharge of $400, it’s possible to move into one of Singapore’s famed Suites, per The Points Guy.
The former Singapore Airlines Suites Class seats are now being flown on Norwegian flights between London Gatwick (LGW) and New York (JFK). Image by Singapore Airlines
This month, while Norwegian Air Shuttle is waiting for its Boeing 787s to undergo Rolls Royce engine repairs, Hi Fly is leasing Norwegian an Airbus A380 it acquired from Singapore Airlines. Norwegian is using the superjumbo on its New York Kennedy (JFK) to London Gatwick (LGW) service.
Flying Norwegian This Summer, Beware of Aircraft Swaps
Norwegian doesn’t sell business class seats. That means that Norwegian “Premium Class” premium economy passengers are sitting in lie-flats. The airline was originally putting premium guests in the suites at random, but caught on to an opportunity and is now charging a few extra bones for the opportunity.
To score this deal, search for flights in Premium Economy using a search tool like Google Flights or Kayak.com (or book on Norwegian). There are two LGW to JFK flights per day, so be sure to look for the ones operated by Hi Fly, using the A380 aircraft.
This premium economy fare will put you in a former Singapore Airlines lie-flat business class seat on the upper deck of an Airbus A380 superjumbo.
Norwegian is offering paid upgrades to the First Class Suites at check-in, according to The Points Guy.
If you were to book this seat using points and miles, through a travel portal like Chase Sapphire Ultimate Rewards, it could cost as few as 41,000 miles one-way, and just a little extra change. Plus, no taxes, fees or add-on surcharges. That’s really the best deal out there at this moment.
A few caveats:
- Don’t plan any meetings in the hours after your arrival time; Norwegian and Hi Fly have been having major punctuality issues with this and other routes on which its been wet-leasing replacement aircraft.
- This flight was rescheduled from late evening to 3 a.m. (JFK departure). Hopefully, that will free up gate space and help with the punctuality issues.
- Don’t expect a multi-course meal. Service items are consistent with Norwegian’s very good Premium Economy class service. That service doesn’t compare to Singapore Business or First, though.
- This A380 is only scheduled on this route up to Aug. 23. After that, it’s unclear whether Norwegian will return its 787 Dreamliners to this service or use another leased airplane.
For those who can work it into their schedule take this flight, I can hardly think of a better value I’ve seen, anywhere, to take a long-haul overnight flight in a fully lie-flat bed.
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